Alternative Medicine

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• QDoes cupping cause bruising?

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  A St Francis Medical Center answered

  Cupping does not always cause bruising, although it can. There are two kinds of cupping. One is called sliding cups, where a cup is used to create a vacuum and then slid so it feels like a massage. It is sometimes called massage cupping and is really comfortable. It provides all the benefits of increasing the blood flow and breaking up scar tissue. It has some of the benefits of cupping and some of the benefits of massage.

  The other kind of cupping is called stationary cupping, and that’s where a really strong vacuum-like suck is used and leaves darker marks, or darker marks can occur if there has been an injury. The sliding cups treatment is gentler and does not leave dark marks. People should talk to the acupuncturist about these treatment options.

  Trinity Health is a Catholic health care organization that acts in accordance with the Catholic tradition and does not condone or support all practices covered in this site. In case of emergency call 911. This site is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider.

• QWhat is cupping?

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  A St Francis Medical Center answered

  Cupping is a treatment that acupuncturists have used for thousands of years to stimulate the circulation of blood. Cups are placed on the skin and a vacuum-like feel is created using a pump. This causes a lack of oxygen, and some of the tissue is sucked up into the cup. That process stimulates the circulation of blood, breaks up adhesion, and creates a pathway for toxins or metabolic wastes to be drawn up through the skin, through the muscle and out of the body as it returns to the blood and lymph system.

  Trinity Health is a Catholic health care organization that acts in accordance with the Catholic tradition and does not condone or support all practices covered in this site. In case of emergency call 911. This site is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider.

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• QWhat are the side effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

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  A NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answered

  Some patients may develop temporary changes in eyesight. In these cases, vision should return to pre-treatment status within eight weeks of the completion of the treatments. There are other less common side effects and risks, which will be discussed before the therapy begins.
• QWhat is reflexology?

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  A Ben Kaminsky , Dermatology, answered

  Reflexology or Zone therapy is a healing art based upon the theory that there are reflex areas, or specific points, in the feet and hands that correspond to all the glands and organs in the body. The term "reflex" refers to the fact that these points are responsive to stimulus.
  
  As with acupuncture and other touch modalities, reflexologists believe that nerve pathways exist throughout the body. When any of these pathways is blocked, the body experiences discomfort or “disease.” Reflexology is thought to revive this energy flow and bring the body back into homeostasis or a state of balance.
  

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• QWhat is polarity therapy?

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  A Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered

  Polarity therapy incorporates diet, exercise, bodywork, and counseling, and is based on the concept of the human energy field. Polarity practitioners believe that the body is similar to a bar magnet with a (+) pole at the top and a (-) pole at the bottom, and that by placing the hands on the body, it is possible to alter the energy flow and facilitate profound changes in both mind and body.
• QWhat is heat therapy?

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  A Dr. Vonda Wright, MD , Orthopedic Surgery, answered

  Heat therapy is the use of heat, in the form of hot compresses, heat lamps, or heating pads, to cause blood vessels to dilate and increase blood flow to the injury site. Increased blood flow aids the healing process. Also called thermotherapy.
• QWhat is cold therapy?

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  A Dr. Vonda Wright, MD , Orthopedic Surgery, answered

  Cold therapy is the use of ice packs to reduce inflammation by constricting blood vessels and limiting blood flow to the injured tissues; this eases pain by numbing the injured area. It is generally used for only the first 48 hours after injury. Also called cryotherapy.
• QWhat is ear seeding (ear beading)?

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  A Dr. Daniel Hsu, DAOM , Alternative & Complementary Medicine, answered

  

  Ear seeds, or ear beads, are actual mustard seeds that are treated and placed on tape, which are then pressed on acupuncture points on the ear. Watch as oriental medicine expert Daniel Hsu, DAOM, explains the benefits of using ears seed or beads.

  

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  What Is Ear Seeding (Ear Beading)?
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